Cut Worms’, Max Clarke, performs for himself, and you’re all invited to watch

The shy demeanour of Max Clarke disappears the moment he steps into Cut Worms on stage. Clarke has decorum in his music that gives it a sense of timelessness tenderness. The debut EP, Alien Sunset, will release next month on Jagjaguwar records. Currently touring with The Lemon Twigs, I caught up Clarke for a Q&A on his new EP and the band.

Can you describe your sound in one word?

Clarke: Wow. That’s tough. I’ve never been asked that before. For the EP, I’d describe it as immediate. I was writing them [songs] as I was recording. I was just trying to get them existing as fast as possible.

What’s it like to be at a Cut Worms show?

Clarke: I mainly care about song writing as a craft. I’m not that natural as a performer, I’ve had to force myself to do it.

Why do you need to force yourself?

Clarke: I’m not an outgoing person. It’s mainly before I start playing, then once I start I tune it out by trying to focus on what I’m doing.

Is there a big contrast between you as a person and as a performer?

Clarke: It’s all me. I do write from characters a lot. Some people hear my songs and think it’s direct personal experience. I couldn’t really say my songs are about one thing. I try to write from a different perspective as much I can, this sounds pretentious, but it helps me understand what life is; by trying to explore feelings other people have rather than just my own.

What are we going to hear on the EP?

Clarke: The EP is mainly to give these songs a little bit more life before they’re deleted off of Bandcamp forever. They’re demos that I’ve recorded over two years. The first half were recorded when I was living in Chicago, the second half were from when I moved to New York. Some of the songs will cross over onto the full length EP that will be released later on. But they’ll be flushed out studio recordings; these [demos] are the most initial pure forms of the songs.

What’s your favourite song off of the EP

Clarke: My favourite one is the last one Song of the Highest Tower. I adapted it from a poem. I put the words to music then added some of my own words. I liked the way it came together, I’ve never written a song like that before.

What are we going to see in the future?

Clarke: More…better…music. *Laughs* I’m just going to continue on the same strand. There is a certain feeling I go after. I can’t really put it into words. The closest I can come; is me playing the songs. So I’m just going to keep trying to reach that thing. After a certain point you’re never going to achieve what you’re after so it’s about the chase.

It seems like you perform more for yourself

Clarke: It is a personal thing. I just make music that I would want to listen to.